by Frank Holmes, reporter
President Donald Trump regularly calls himself the “Deporter-in-Chief.” And he just proved why he deserves the name, as he announced a clever new program to make thousands or millions of illegal aliens leave America of their own free will.
He calls it “self-deportation”—and it’s already taking off.
Ordinarily, voters envision the Trump administration’s new illegal immigration enforcement policies as tracking down narcoterrorists and human smugglers, busting into their safe houses, and marching the coyotes out in handcuffs until their plane touches down near a nasty prison in El Salvador…and it’s easy to see why.
President Trump has already arrested more than 158,000 illegal aliens and deported 139,000 illegals so far this year—including 300 members of the Central American terrorist groups MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, according to figures supplied by the White House.
But since his assassination attempt, Trump has shown a softer side of his personality—and his White House wants to offer a kinder, gentler deportation to illegals.
The illegal aliens can go to the country of their choice, leave on their own schedule, and pocket a fresh handful of gringo dinero to spend in their home country.
The Trump administration is offering illegals $1,000 each to leave America mas rapido.
The government will pay for their flight and let them choose their destination—unlike when the government deports them against their will, to whatever country authorities think is best.
Illegals can even schedule their self-deportation from the comfort of their own Obama phone. They probably already have the app installed.
As The Horn News reported, President Trump turned the Biden-Harris administration’s “CBP One” app—which let 1,500 illegals enter this country every day—into the CBP Home App. That version reverses the government’s decision to partner with lawlessness—a major upgrade.
The new Trump administration has made encouraging illegals to make a second run for the border an all-hands-on-deck proposition.
The Trump administration will offer a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to migrants who elect to voluntarily "self deport" from the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday. pic.twitter.com/cQ9wCeqjw6
— NTD Television (@TelevisionNTD) May 5, 2025
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for U.S. taxpayers.”
She even took out 30- and 60-second ads telling illegals directly to leave the country and immediately, “Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport!”
Immigration experts say the plan is a stroke of brilliance.
“Self-deportation has never been given an adequate chance to work. However, making it succeed is not rocket science, it is just a matter of will,” wrote the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
Trump border expert Tom Homan also believes “we’ll have some movement” thanks to the ads, the app, and the cash. “I think people are finally getting the message: If you leave on your own, you can take advantage of legal programs to come back,” Homan told Newsmax. “But if we have to go through the process of formally deporting you, there are mandatory bars against you of up to 20 years, sometimes forever.”
Americans may object to giving lawbreakers a financial incentive to return to their homes, but the Trump administration crunched the numbers and found it would actually save taxpayers money.
The average deportation costs taxpayers $17,121 per alien, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). But DHS says letting the administration have the illegals come forward on their own costs only $4,500 each—even after Trump gives them $1,000 walking around money.
That’s a savings of 70 percent, or $12,621 for every single illegal immigrant deported.
That could be a massive savings, considering there are 1.5 million people the government has already won an order of deportation against. FAIR estimates the total number of illegal aliens living in the U.S. as of March is approximately 18.6 million…although others place the number even higher.
If President Trump saves $12,621 for all 18.6 million illegal aliens in America, he would save taxpayers $234 billion.
What’s more, the Trump administration’s plan to restore the rule of law to immigration isn’t just handing out your money—it’s also taking theirs.
Yes, Trump will give illegal aliens who leave the country $1,000 each, but he has also decided to fine illegals $1,000 a day for every day they overstay their welcome.
With those carrots and sticks in place, experts say, Trump might just convince a lot of American
“Self-deportation now has a sporting chance of working, and the Trump administration seems determined to make sure it does,” said FAIR.
All the illegal aliens have to do is punch a few words into their phone, and DHS can reach out and touch someone.